Oh, summer camp

Well I am home for the weekend and thought I'd let you know how the past two weeks have gone . . . Both weeks I have worked the day camp and have had tons of fun and yet tons of struggles. The first week I had a girl in my "cabin" that we weren't allowed to take pictures of for one reason or another so we don't have many pictures from that week. But this week I got to take more pictures and have put a few of them below. . . It is defiantly difficult working with girls from a totally different background than mine. I've had to come to realize that what I consider yelling and harsh tones aren't necessarily what they would consider them. At the beginning of this past week my CO Anna and I had quite the trouble with two of our girls really butting heads. There was a lot of "she said this to me", "she did this to me". I had a few opportunities to talk to them about getting along and how to be friends to others. At the end of the week it was so very rewarding to see them playing together!. . . One of the things I found myself stressed over was the fact of not having time to really talk or get to know my campers. Because I was working day camp the times of the day that are normally good talking times (bed time, rest period, chapel, etc.) my kids weren't there for. So I found myself getting discouraged every morning at staff meeting when all the others came in with story after story of campers getting saved and yet I couldn't tell you much of anything about my campers. I came to realize that it is not my place to save kids, that God might be using me as a milestone in those girls lives that would some day lead to their salvation! Please pray that as I start a new week I will be more in tune with their lifestyle and more aware of opportunities to speak Christ into their lives and less worried about being the one to "save them" and let God take care of that. . . . Also this week (starting 5pm today)I will be working resident camp (overnight)so I will be in a cabin and am super excited yet nervous. Being in a cabin over day camp brings a whole lot of different struggles. Also this week we start busing kids up from Chicago and I'm not to sure what these kids might be bringing with them. My heart already feels heavy for the girls I will meet knowing they have most likely been through some really tough times and seen some really horrible things. Please pray that 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 will become alive in me this summer. . . "Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law.To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law.To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.". . . . Please spend some time in prayer for me this week that I might "become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some". . . . . Thank you again for your love, prayers, and support! ~Janelle

It's June! Camp training is over. . .

I'm back home for the weekend and thought I'd give you a quick update about how camp is going so far. I don't have internet available at camp so I will do my best to update you on the weekends that I make it home. . . . Camp has been amazing! I've met so many great people and have loved their company! Training was much much more intense than I was expecting but I know it will prove to be beneficial once campers start coming. This Monday (June 14th) is the official beginning of camp! Monday through Friday we start with Day camp so we will have campers from 8am-4pm then more training in the evenings. Then next Sunday will start resident(over-night)camp. I will be working with the 8-11year old girls all summer and am super excited!. . . Please keep me in your prayers as I will be under great stress and in great need of child-like energy each and every day! Also, as you know I will be working with intercity kids and over this past two weeks have realized how much I just don't know or understand about other races and cultures. This is going to be a huge struggle for me to find ways to relate to kids from intercity Chicago when I grew up in New Era/Cedar Springs! At this point this is my biggest worry when it comes to camp and I would appreciate much prayer over this matter! Also please pray that I will have the boldness to take every opportunity to tell everyone about Christ! . . . Oh, hay interesting tid-bit there is another Jenelle at camp. It is really strange to hear me being talked about or talked to and it not really me! haha I think this is the first time since way back that I have ever been in the same room with someone with my name (same for Jenelle too). So I'm trying to figure out what would be a good nick-name to have the campers call me?! At school I go by 'Momma J' because of how I take care of those around me. Any thoughts or suggestions? :) . . . Anyway, Denny and I have been doing really well and have been enjoying our summer off of School! It has been hard to spend so much time apart but we both have been doing really well anyway. Denny is still working nearly 40hrs/wk but still finds time to come see me every weekend and call every night! :) Once resident camp starts I wont be able to have my cell phone on except for an hour a day so we will talk to each other even less. Please keep us in your prayers this summer; that although we may be apart our relationship will just grow stronger, for Denny's hours to keep up, for me at camp and all that goes with it, and God's continued provisions for next semester!. . . Thank you again for your love, support, and prayers! ~Janelle (P.S. I will try to post a few pictures next time I update. Also if there is anything you want to know about how things are going please leave me a comment! I never really know what you all want to hear.)